Perceptions of Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Adolescent Females Involved in Juvenile Justice

CHOICES-TEEN is a bundled intervention aimed at reducing the risks of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and alcohol- and tobacco-exposed pregnancies for adolescent girls involved in the juvenile justice system. We examined youths' (N = 22) elicited pros and cons concerning alcohol, tobacco, condom, and contraception use to inform future iterations of CHOICES-TEEN and other prevention programming during a one-arm pilot study. Content analysis was used to identify recurring themes elicited and recorded during a decisional balance exercise with a counselor. The most recurrent pros and cons were factors that directly affected these adolescents, with more immediate consequences. The results provide insight into motivations for engaging in substance use and risky sexual behaviors for these youth, as well as barriers to change.